Profile Picture

Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz, PhD RPsych

Positions

Associate Professor

Werklund School of Education

Adjunct Associate Professor

Faculty of Arts , Department of Psychology

Full Member

Hotchkiss Brain Institute

Full Member

Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education

Child Health & Wellness Researcher

Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Owerko Centre

Contact information

Phone number

Office: 403.220.3669

Location

Office: EDT528

For media enquiries, contact

Clayton MacGillivray
Content and Media Specialist


Email: clmacgil@ucalgary.ca
Twitter: @UCalgaryEduc

Background

Credentials

Registered Psychologist #2166, College of Alberta Psychologists, 1993

Educational Background

Doctor of Philosophy Social Psychology, The University of Calgary, 2002

Master of Science Educational Psychology, The University of Calgary, 1992

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Psychology, The University of Manitoba, 1988

Biography

Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz is an Associate Professor in the School and Applied Child Psychology program. He has a Ph.D. in Social Psychology and an MSc in Educational Psychology from the University of Calgary. From 2008-2015, he was Director of the U of C Applied Psychological and Educational Services (U-CAPES), an on-campus clinic serving children and families Calgary and area (now called Integrated Services in Education, ISE). As a registered psychologist (1993), he began his career with a Calgary school board and worked extensively with children and adolescents who had severe learning and/or social/emotional needs. Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Schwartz was on faculty at Ambrose University College for over 12 years where he served as Program Head of Behavioural Science. He has been active on the boards and committees of the College of Alberta Psychologists, the Psychologists Association of Alberta, the Canadian Psychological Association (Family Psychology Section), and HopeShares Canada.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Dr. Schwartz has previously served as a Research Fellow with the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada (Ottawa) and a Scientific Advisor for Search Institute’s (Minneapolis, MN) Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence. He has also served as a member of the College of Alberta Psychologists Hearing Tribunal/Complaint Review Committee, as member and chair of ministry-appointed Alberta Education tribunals, and as a member and vice-chair on the Board of Directors for the Psychologists Association of Alberta (2017-2019).  Dr. Schwartz has also served as a director on several local and international non-profit boards and is past Chair of the Board of Directors for HopeShares Canada, a nonprofit registered Canadian charity that operates a community development agency in Bhekulwandle, South Africa, serving children and families in the areas of literacy, health, education, leadership, and spiritual development.

Currently, Dr. Schwartz is a full member of the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institutes (ACHRI), the Owerko Centre, the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), and the Mathison Centre for Mental Health and Education. He is also Researcher with the Canadian Institute of Military and Veteran Health Research and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. Dr. Schwartz is also a  Board of Director, Sonshine Community Services.

https://research4kids.ucalgary.ca/

https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/owerko/

https://mathison.ucalgary.ca/

https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/

Research

Areas of Research

Theoretical Orientations:
  • developmental
  • ecological
  • family systems
  • positive youth development
  • resiliency
Scholarly Activity

Dr. Schwartz is active in the fields of child and adolescent development, family and parent-child relationships, and international child development. He has held several national and international grants for his research in positive youth development and psychology of family, and he regularly serves as a reviewer for several notable academic journals. His work has been published articles and chapters in numerous academic and common publications, and he has presented symposia and invited lectures at over 70 national and international conferences.

Interests:
  • Adolescent development
  • Child development
  • International community development
  • Family psychology (military-connected and first responder families)
  • Social development
  • Positive youth development
  • Media studies and literacy
  • School-based mental health
  • Stress and child/family impacts

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
EDPS 761 Advanced Doctoral Practicum in Clincal Assessment Spring 2022
EDPS 669 Social-Emotional Assessment and Intervention Winter 2022
EDPS 650 Family and Social Bases of Behaviour Winter 2022

Projects

Current:
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research: Operating Grant (CIHR: 2021-2022): Co-Investigator; Understanding Vaccine Confidence and Decision-Making Among Canadian Youth: Survey and Intervention Development. ($170,329)
  • Child Health and Wellness Grand Challenge Catalyst Grant (ACHRI; 2021-2022): Co-Invesigator; Measure what matters: Identifying Key Indicators to Align Health and Social Policy and Service Delivery with Child Health and Well-being. ($199,708)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research: Operating Grant (CIHR; 2020-2021): Principal Investigator; COVID-19 Variant Supplement - Screening Student Resiliency and Mental Health Indicators During School Re-Entry. ($49,063)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research: Operating Grant (CIHR; 2020-2021): Principal Investigator; Screening Student Resiliency and Mental Health Indicators During School Re-Entry. ($199,087)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research Team Grant (CIHR; 2020-2024): Principal Investigator; Designing and implementing a psychoeducational support intervention for spouses and children in first responder (e.g., fire, police, paramedic) and military-connected famiilies. ($974,898)
  • Canadian Insititutes of Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR; 2020-2021): Co-investigator; Study to understand the root causes of Veteran homlessness in Alberta. ($114,410)
  • CIHR Knowledge Synthesis Grant (2020-2021): Co-investigator; Scoping review of school-based suicide risk assessment using e-health. ($43,063)
  • Policywise Secondary Data Use Grant (2019-2020): Co-investigator; Screen time, child development, and parental monitoring. ($5,000)

Awards

  • 2021 Fire Researcher of the Year Awar, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. 2021
  • Distinguished Graduate Supervision Award, Werklund School of Education. 2020
  • Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Marriage and Family Canada. 2015
  • Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Marriage and Family Canada. 2014
  • Senior Research Fellow, 2013
  • Senior Research Fellow, 2012
  • Senior Research Fellow, 2011
  • Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Marriage and Family Canada (IMFC). 2010
  • International Project Grant (University of Calgary), 2009
  • Nomination - 2009 PAA Excellence in Teaching Psychology Award, 2009
  • Scientific Advisor - Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence, 2008
  • Senior Research Fellow - Institute of Marriage and Family Canada, Institute of Marriage and Family Canda. 2008

Publications

  • Constructing intervention: Focus group confirmation of needs and strengths of first responder families. . Park, J. L., Schwartz, K. D., McLuckie, A., McMorris, C., Redekop, M., & Harris, D.. National Council of Family Relations Conference. (2021)
  • Surveying complementary and unique strengths and needs of PSP and their families.. Schwartz, K., McMorris, C., McLuckie, A., Park, J. L., Stelnicki, A., Harris, D., Van Bavel, M., Redekop, M., & Khan, K. . Canadian Institutes for Military and Veteran Health Forum. (2021)
  • On the home front: Lived experiences of PSP members and their families. . Schwartz, K. D., Cowan, S., & Ernst, T. . 41st Annual Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Virtual Conference. (2021)
  • Children and families of PSP: A mixed-method examination of experiences. Redekop, M., Khan, K., Park, J. L., McLuckie, A., McMorris, C., Schwartz, K. D., & Harris, D.. 41st Annual Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Virtual Conference. (2021)
  • Focus group confirmation of needs and strengths of first responder families.. Park, J. L., Redekop, M., Harris, D., McLuckie, A., Schwartz, K. D.. 82nd Annual Canadian Psychological Association Convention. (2021)
  • Online survey with first responder families confirming delivery and format of pilot program. Schwartz, K., McMorris, C., Park, J. L., Khan, K., Van Bavel, M., Stelnicki, A., Harris, D., Boey, J.. 82nd Annual Canadian Psychological Association Convention. (2021)
  • COVID-19 and adolescent wellbeing: Student stress, mental health, and resilience during a pandemic. Schwartz, K. D., McMorris, C., Exner-Cortens, D., Makarenko, E., Arnold, P., Van Bavel, M., Williams, S., Canfield, R., & Boey, J. . 82nd Annual Canadian Psychological Association Convention. (2021)
  • Student health and wellbeing during a pandemic. Schwartz, K. D., McMorris, C., Exner-Cortens, D., Makarenko, E., Arnold, P., Van Bavel, M., & Williams, S.. Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development. (2021)
  • School reopening and student mental health in metropolitan school districts. Schwartz, K. D., & Makarenko, E. . National Association of School Psychologists. (2021)
  • Screen time and parental monitoring in early childhood. Mueller, M., & Schwartz, K. D. . National Association of School Psychologists. (2020)
  • Resiliency at-risk: Impact of parental OSI on youth resilience and psychological outcomes. A. M. Stelnicki; K. D. Schwartz. (2019)
  • Examining the impact of parental mental health in military-connected youth school engagement: Do developmental assets buffer negative effects.. K. D. Schwartz; A. M. Stelnicki. (2018)
  • The long way home: A qualitative study of Veteran families in military-to-civilian transition.. K . Smith-Evans; L . Tam-Seto; H. Cramm; M. Eichler; A. M. Stelnicki; A. Mahar; K. D. Schwartz; B. Wheeler; D. Blackburn; D. Norris. (2018)
  • The lived experience of first responder families: Risks of stress, mental illness, and familial conflict.. K. D. Schwartz; C. M. Baek. (2018)
  • Military-to-civilian transition: Implications for program and policy development.. K . Smith-Evans; H. Cramm; A. Mahar; K. D. Schwartz; L . Tam-Seto; D. Norris. (2018)
  • Does Canadian Armed Forces service member mental well-being contribute to higher substance use among their partners?. K. D. Schwartz; A. M. Stelnicki. (2018)
  • Creative spaces: Creating a space for the promotion and wellness ofIndigenous student.. Van Bavel; Karlee Fellner; Schwartz. (2018)
  • Context matters: Exploring developmental assets that predict thriving andrisk in Zulu youth.. P. Scales; K. D. Schwartz; L. Theron. (2018)
  • Military strong: Youth developmental assets and resilience inmilitary-connected families.. K. D. Schwartz; A. M. Stelnicki; B. Wheeler. (2018)
  • The relationship between playtime activities, executive functioning, and sleep in preschool children. . K. Warren; K. D. Schwartz. (2018)
  • Military strong: Canadian Armed Forces families, Veterans with mental health problems,and military-to-civilian transition.. H. Cramm; D. Norris; K. D. Schwartz. (2018)
  • Exploring the protective factors that promote thriving in Aboriginal adolescents.. Van Bavel; Schwartz; K. D.. (2018)
  • Family life after service: Secondary analysis of the LASS 2016 survey. K. D. Schwartz. (2017)
  • More than just surviving:Exploring resilience and developmental assets inyouth from military-connected families.. A. M. Stelnicki; K. D. Schwartz; B. Wheeler. (2017)
  • Resilience in military children: Which factors best protect against the development of problems?. K. D. Schwartz; A. M. Stelnicki. (2017)
  • Who knows best?: Examining the similarities and differences between parent and child self-reports of functioning in children from military families.. K. D. Schwartz; A. M. Stelnicki. (2017)
  • From here to eternity: The impact of Veteran’s mental health on families in military-to-civilian transition.. H. Cramm; D. Norris; K. D. Schwartz; L . Tam-Seto; A. Mahar; K . Smith-Evans. (2017)
  • Exploring self-compassion as a developmental strength that promotes thriving inAboriginal adolescents.. Van Bavel; Schwartz. (2017)
  • Working with complex families: Challenges and responsibilities for psychologists in schools.. L. Flanigan; H. Craig; K. D. Schwartz; F. Hoey. (2017)
  • How does comorbid social phobia impact neurobiology and transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment response in adolescents with major depressive disorder?. Schwartz; James McLellan; K. D.; Frank MacMaster; Swansberg; Zewdie; Christopher Kirton; Lyngberg; M. Worth. (2017)
  • Exploring family resiliency within Canadian Armed Forces Veteran families during the military-to-civilian transition.. K. D. Schwartz; J. Whelan; K. Wynia; H. Cramm; D. Norris. (2017)
  • Exploring effects of OSI and PTSD on CAF military and Veteran families.. K. D. Schwartz. (2017)
  • Social media, adolescent mental health, and the school psychologist.. K. D. Schwartz. (2017)
  • Developmental assets andtheir relationto school engagement and academic self-efficacy in Canadian military children.. K. D. Schwartz; A. M. Stelnicki; B. Wheeler. (2016)
  • Military strong: Youth developmental assets in families with parental OSI.. M., A.; Stelnicki; K. D. Schwartz. (2016)
  • Qualitative study on mental health of military families in transition to civilian life.. D. Norris; K. D. Schwartz; H. Cramm. (2016)
  • Married to the malady: Impact of OSI’s on spousal relationships.. K. D. Schwartz; A. M. Stelnicki. (2016)
  • Embracing Ubuntu: The presence and power of developmental assets in Zulu youth.. K. D. Schwartz. (2016)
  • An exploration of Canada’s aboriginal youths’ strengths and school engagement.. K. D. Schwartz; H. Winterflood; J. M. Young. (2016)
  • What’s right with kids these days?:Three perspectives on how youth are thriving and what we shouldn’t do about it.. K. D. Schwartz; G. Dimitropolous; R. Goldade. (2016)
  • Developmental assets and risk and thriving outcomes in military family youth.. K. D. Schwartz; A.M.; Stelnicki. (2016)
  • School engagement as a protective factor for children in military families.. B. Wheeler; K. D. Schwartz; A. M. Stelnicki. (2016)
  • Military parent mental health and child functioning.. A. M. Stelnicki; K. D. Schwartz. (2016)
  • Strengthening parent-adolescent relationship quality through teen triple-p.. S. L. Smygwaty; K. D. Schwartz. (2016)
  • School bonding and academic achievement in aboriginal youth.. K. D. Schwartz; J. Young; H. Winterflood. (2016)
  • Engaging aboriginal youth in education with positive youth development.. J. M. Young; H. Winterflood; K. D. Schwartz. (2016)
  • Resilience in military children: Developmental strengths and school performance.. K. D. Schwartz; I. Campbell; A. M. Stelnicki. (2016)
  • How children respond to OSI: Social, emotional,and behavioural outcomes in children of military parents.. K. D. Schwartz; A. M. Stelnicki. (2015)
  • Examining the developmental strengths ofchildren from military families.. A. M. Stelnicki; K. D. Schwartz. (2015)